The Close by Jane Casey- book review/Blog Tour

I’m pleased to be part of the Random Things Tours blog tour for The Close by Jane Casey. Here is my review of this murder mystery, book 10 in the Maeve Kerrigan books.

At first glance, Jellicoe Close seems to be a perfect suburban street – well-kept houses with pristine lawns, neighbours chatting over garden fences, children playing together.
But there are dark secrets behind the neat front doors, hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing.
It’s up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent to uncover the truth. Posing as a couple, they move into the Close, blurring the lines between professional and personal as never before.
And while Maeve and Josh try to gather the evidence they need, they have no idea of the danger they face – because someone in Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind.

Review

This was my first Maeve Kerrigan book and I can safely say that this won’t be my last. I could jump straight into the Maeve backstory and the complicated relationship with her bosses without any problem, so you definitely don’t need to have read the previous book to enjoy this one.

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.

The book doesn’t just deal with the main mystery in the blurb but two other equally engrossing mysteries.

The story is fast-paced but there is plenty of humour and tension. The tense will- they or won’t they relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent is one of the highlights. Maeve herself is a complex character and the description of her overcoming her recent trauma is well-written.

The residents of Jellicoe Close are equal measures of creepy and neighbourly and while I initially wished my neighbours were as friendly as them- a view which changed by the end!

I didn’t guess who the murderer was by the end and I felt satisfied by the resolution of all the various crime stories.

I can’t wait to read more from Jane CaseyContent warning

Content warning

References to domestic violence, reference to trafficking and childhood assault

Perfect for Fans of

Female led detective mysteries